Automatic closing dispensing device for collapsible tubes



Feb. 6, 1940.

Filed Sept. 27, 1957 //V VEN TOR 0MM fs ff weer M/fN/A y/M ATTOKNEY- Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC CLOSING DISPENSING DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Charles Stewart Mann, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 'Application september 27, 1937, serial No. 165,782

s claims.' (C1. zal- 60) My invention relates to improvements in automatic closing dispensing devices for collapsible tubes. The objects oi the invention are to providea dispensing device for a collapsible tube which can be automatically closed againstthe extrusion of its contents by pressing a button; to provide for the device to be locked in closed position by turning in one direction and for opening by turning in an opposite direction. Further objects are to provide a novel form of dog by which the device is secured against rotation upon the nipple of a collapsible tube, said dog being displaceable without the use ot' screw driver or other tools to permit the device to be removed from one tube and for its replacement on another. l. n v I The invention consists essentially of a sleeve forming part f or being adapted for connection to the discharge end of a collapsible tube, an apertured cap capable of endwise movement along the sleeve to permit extrusion of the contents of the tube and a push button for effecting the closure of the apertures in the cap, as will be more fully described in the following `specication and .I s shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fractionated plan view through the main sleeve taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the cylinder and latch.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectionalv View of the y means for locking the device to the tube nipple taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2. f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the locking device.

Fig. 6 is a plan view oi the invention taken on the line Ii--B of Figure 1 showing the approximate position of the bolt and push button when the device is in normal closed position.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

The numeral I indicates a collapsible tube having shoulders 2 and a threaded nipple 3. Fitted upon the nipple 3 is a main sleeve i having a substantially conical baseflange 5 which is adapted to fit the shoulders 2 of the tube I and an internal flange 6 Which is drawn down onto a packing washer l placed between it and the end of the nipple. The sleeve 4 is provided with an `annular packing ring 8 adjacent its upper end and is also provided with a pair of opposed peripheral grooves 9. The peripheral grooves 9 each consist of a horizontal run it, see Figures 1 and 2, and an inclined run Il, and extending upwardly from the horizontal run, preferably adjacent its intersection'with the inclined run, is a vertical groove I2. Mounted concentrically above the main sleeve Il is a cylinder I3 having radial arms I4 by which it is connected, in any suitable i manner, to the main sleeve 4.

The cylinder I3 is provided with a yvertical groove I5 having an opening It at its lower end extending through the cylinder wall and above the groove is a recess Il in which a spring I8 is carried. Pivotally mounted in the cylinder lwall vand partly in the groove I5 is a lever I9 having without vertical movement to' the extent of the f horizontal runs lil, to turn with an endwise movement to the extent or' the inclined runs I I and to move endwise only to the extent of the vertical groove I2.

Fitted into the side wall of the cap is a spring retracted bolt 26 tted with a push button 27. This bolt is adapted to be brought into alignment, when the cap is raised to its full extent, with the pins in the inclined runs lI of the grooves 9 with the thrust plate 2l, so that by pressing `the button the lever I9 is rocked to move the latch .2li radially outward.

v Screwed into the base of the cylinder I3 is a plug 28 having a stem 29 upon which a coil spring 30 is freely mounted and slidably mounted in the cylinder is a hollow plunger 3l which is upwardly urged by the spring. The plunger 3l is provided adjacent `its base with an annular groove 32 which is adapted to be entered by the latch 2!) to prevent the plunger from rising within the cylinder I3. The upper end of the plunger 3l is provided with a tapered closure 33 for the discharge opening Z4 and is tted with a washer 34 which is compressed between the closure and the cylinder I3 when the cap 22 is in closed position as shown in Figure 1.

A locking device generally indicated by the numeral 35 and shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5 is provided to lock the sleeve ll against turning on the nipple 3. This locking device consists of a cover plate 35 which is hinged in a recess 3l r formed in the wall of the sleeve. The cover plate is provided on its inner side with a dog 33 having a cutting edge 39 which is adapted to be pressed into the soft metal of the nipple 3. A pin 40 ex- I tends from the cover plate and carries a coil spring 4I which abuts the base of a recess 42 and serves to relieve the lifting strain necessary to lift the cover plate and remove the dog 38 from engagement. The cover plate is adapted to lie flush with the outer face of the sleeve 4 and to be fully exposed for opening, as in the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, when the cap is raised and the pins 25 are at the upper extremity of the vertical grooves I2 in the sleeve 4.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention I will now briefly describe its use.

When iitting the device to a new tube, the cap 22 is raised to its fullest extent and the pins 25 are in the upper extremity of the grooves l2, the sleeve 4 is then screwed onto the nipple 3 until the flange 5 is properly seated on the shouldei's 2 of the tube. When in this position the cover plate 36 is pressed down to the position shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, thus forcing the cutting edge 39 'of the dog 38 through the opening 43 in the sleeve and into the metal of the nipple 3. Subsequent to the closing down of the cover plate the cap is moved downwardly and. turned upon the sleeve i when the pins 25 will be riding in the horizontal portions l!! of the grooves S, as shown in Figure 1.

To open the device in order to discharge some of the contents of the tube, the cap 22 is turned, causing the pins 25 to ride along the inclined portions Il of the grooves 9, while the plunger 3|, being retained in retracted position in the cylinder, permits the discharge opening to be uncovered; as soon as sufficient paste has been discharged, pressure on the thumb button 2'! will cause the bolt 26 to depress the arcuate plate 2l of the lever I9 and remove the latch 20 from the groove 32 of the plunger, thus allowing the closure 33 to be smartly thrust into the discharge opening and shut off the flow.

To lock the device against extrusion, the cap will be turned in an opposite direction, which will cause the pins to ride down the inclined portions l i and into the horizontal portions ill. 'I'his action restores the plunger to its former or retracted position where it is again held by the latch 2U.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising a sleeve, a cap rotatable and enclwise movable upon the sleeve, said cap having a discharge opening and a closure for the opening carried by the sleeve, means for holding the closure stationary within the sleeve when the cap is moved outwardly endwise, a spring for urging the closure towards the opening in the cap, and means for releasing the spring.

2. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising a sleeve, a cap rotatable and endwise movable upon the sleeve, said cap having a discharge opening and a closure for the opening carried by the sleeve, said closure being end wise movable by a spring, and means projecting from the cap for releasing the spring to move the closure towards the openings.

3. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising a sleeve, a cap movable lengthwise or the sleeve, said cap having a discharge opening, a closure endwise movable within the cap, means for urging the closure towards the opening, and manual means operable from the exterior of the cap for releasing the closure to close 'the discharge opening.

4. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising a sleeve having a peripheral groove divided into a substantially horizontal portion and an inclined portion, an endwise movable closure carried concentrically by the sleeve, a cap rotatable about the sleeve and having a discharge opening adjacent one end, a pin extending from the cap into said groove where by when the pin is in the horizontal portion of the groove the cap is held with the discharge opening closed by the closure and as the cap is turned to bring the pin towards the free end of the inclined portion of the groove the discharge opening is moved away from the closure and a coil spring for projecting the closure longitudinally of the cap to close the discharge opening.

5. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising a sleeve, a cap rotatable and endwise movable upon the sleeve, said cap having a discharge opening, an endwise movable closure carried by the sleeve, means for urging the closure into the discharge opening, means for holding the closure in retracted position, means for moving the cap as it is rotated away from the closure to open the discharge opening, and means manually operable when the cap is away from the closure for releasing said closure from retracted position to close the discharge opening.

6. In a dispensing device for collapsible tubes having a sleeve adapted for attachment to the nipple of the tube and a cap slidable endwise upon the sleeve between predetermined limits to open the device to discharge, said cap having a pin, and said sleeve having a cooperating groove for conning the outward movement of the cap upon the sleeve, said sleeve having an aperture, and a dog extending through said aperture for engaging the nipple to lock the sleeve thereto, said dog being held against removal from the aperture by the cap when the cap movement is conned.

7. In a dispensing device for collapsible tubes having a sleeve adapted for attachment to the nipple of the tube and a cap slidable endwise upon the sleeve, between predetermined limits, to open the device to discharge, said cap having a pin, and said sleeve having a cooperating groove for confining the outward movement of the cap upon the sleeve, said sleeve having an aperture, and a complementary recess, a dog, hinged within the recess and extending through the aperture to engage the nipple, said dog being held against disengagement from the nipple by the cap when the cap movement is conned.

8. In a dispensing device for collapsible tubes having a sleeve adapted for attachment to the nipple of the tube and a cap slidable endwise upon the sleeve, between predetermined limits, to open the device to discharge, said cap having a pin, and said sleeve having a cooperating groove for conning the outward movement of the cap upon the sleeve, said sleeve having an aperture, and a complementary recess, which recess is partially covered by the cap at any point of its confined endwise movement, a cover plate hingedly mounted in the sleeve and a dog on the cover plate extending through the aperture to engage the nipple, the outer surface of the cover plate being adapted to lie approximately iiush with the outer periphery of the sleeve whereby the dog is held in extended position by the cap.

CHARLES STEWART MANN. 

